Individuals preserve asking me, “I’m in Mumbai this weekend, what are the locations close to me, the place can I am going?”. This isn’t usually the type of article we’d write, however right here we’re. The place CAN one go? Effectively, wherever there may be peace and fewer crowds, good atmosphere, a pleasant place to remain and good meals.
Like each metropolis, Mumbai has a lot round it for visiting. And I shall not point out the overdone Lonavala/Khandala.
For starters one can strive Kamshet. A small village round 110km from Mumbai, Kamshet is situated subsequent to Indrayani River and some lakes round. Kamshet has paragliding corporations, and is mostly a sleepy little place to sit back. It additionally has an Arts and Theatre Pageant. There are locations the place you possibly can keep simply to put in writing your e-book, as there are few distractions. Do seek for all of it.
Pune itself is a big metropolis now, with loads of site visitors, however it is extremely near my coronary heart. I discover town very charming, with its outdated bungalows, nemerous cafes, many many eating places, and quaint streets. Pune is price a go to only for its consuming out scene.
Close to Pune, is Saswad. stunning grasslands, residence of the critically endangered Indian Gray Wolf and the Chinkara, Saswad has one or two respectable locations to remain however the panorama is woth visiting for. Strive monsoons are winters right here.
Bhigwan is additional forward of Pune, however it has a good looking birding website and is listed as an Essential Birding Space.I had visited it a few years in the past the place there was no place to remain. I assume one other go to is pending.
Mulshi – Pavana : One other respectable place to go to is the world round Lakes Mulshi and Pavana. Over a time frame, many residence stays and resorts have cropped up. Additionally some 170km from Mumbai, Mulshi is sizzling in summers, good within the monsoons and funky in winters. Drive by means of Mulshi in direction of Tamhini Ghat within the monsoons for a superb expertise of waterfalls, jungles and mist.
For somebody prepared to go a bit of additional, I might recommend Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, despite the fact that they’re a very good 280km from Mumbai and take round 6-7 hours to achieve, and keep away from weekends. Thought of ‘hill-stations’, the dual cities of Panchgani – Mahabaleshwar have cool winters, very heavy monsoons (final 12 months Mahabaleshwar had heavier rains than Cherrapunjee), however many locations to remain and a few respectable locations to go for walks. It’s important to be very cautious when selecting the place to remain, as most locations are mediocre. The meals is mostly unhealthy. The climate could be higher.
Round 130km from Mumbai, by means of a 70% horrible route lies Malshej Ghat. A fantastic village on the Sahyadri mountains, surrounded by hills and forests, Malshej Ghat is windy many of the 12 months. It has a big lake close by, the Pimpalgaon Joga, and has quite a few trekking routes close by, The meals is mediocre.
Not removed from Malshej Ghat is Junnar. Close to Junnar are the Shivneri Hills, the place the nice Shivaji Maharaj was born. One more reason that pulls us to Junnar is its forests and that Junnar has one of many highest densities of Leopards. There are some good agro-tourism keep choices accessible right here although we haven’t stayed there but. It appears the meals there may be good.
Bhimashankar is a good looking dense forest round 210km from Mumbai. A notified wildlife sanctuary, Bhimashankar is price a keep and a trek. Spend a very good few days strolling throuigh the jungle, exploring the wildlife and simply recollecting your ideas. Selection of keep arent nice, however the place is superb.
Someplace round this space likes Matheran, an outdated ‘hill station’. The distinctive factor about Matheran is not any autos are allowed contained in the city. You possibly can solely stroll or use horse carriages or horses. (Possibly that is the explanation I haven’t visited Matheran within the final 14 years). It has loads of outdated bungalows transformed into inns, resorts and residential stays. Relying on the place you keep, the meals could be superb. There’s a toy prepare that may take you as much as Matheran or you possibly can drive your automotive and go away it on the widespread car parking zone (a sense that doesn’t settle nicely with me, I like my automotive means an excessive amount of). However the forest walks and views are superb. Matheran is superior all 12 months spherical, although summers could be sizzling within the solar and monsoons, it will probably rain an excessive amount of.
Head over to the Karnala Chook Sanctuary, which is so near Mumbai. An Essential Birding Space, it has a Fort to trek as much as. Not many nice locations to remain, however it’s barely 75km from Mumbai.
Round the same distance is Nashik. On the banks of the river Godavari, thought-about a holy metropolis, Nashik can be referred to as Dakshin Kashi. (In actual fact the river Godavari begins from a spot referred to as Trimbakeshwar on the outskirts of Nashik). Aside from many non secular websites, Nashik is the wine capital of India with quite a few vineyards and their stays which have mushroomed just lately. Aside from the Vineyards, Nashik has a very good vibe, a spot to chill out and unwind. The meals is mostly good. Very near Nashik is Deolali, an outdated Cantonment City which has many aged Sanatoriums and bungalows to view. Price a go to.
In the identical route as Nashik is Bhandardara, a small hill village. It’s located on the banks of lake Arthur, one of many largest lakes of Maharashtra. An historical temple of Amruteshwara is price visiting within the forests of Kalsubai Wildlife Sanctuary which surrounds Bhandardara. There are quite a few trekking routes right here. Meals is mediocre. Views are beautiful.
Coming in direction of the coastal aspect, what is called Kokan, are many locations that are price mentioning. Alibag to start with. However it is extremely well-known right here and I gained’t go into the main points.
Someplace alongside this stretch are locations like Lonere, Chiplun, Roha and so on which have a deccent place to remain at right here and there. Not mentioning particular person residence stays on this article.
Go a bit of south from Alibag and also you attain Kashid. A fantastic seashore on one aspect, and the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary on the opposite, Kashid is price visiting. Additionally close by to Kashid is the massive palace of Murud Janjira. Constructed on an island within the Arabian Sea at Murud Janjira, go to the superior fort of Padma Durga. The meals on this stretch could be principally disappointing until you discover one thing very genuine after which the tastes can blow your thoughts. There are some respectable locations to remain right here. Search round.
Additional down from Kashid is the temple city of Harihareshwar. The outdated temple devoted to Lord harihareshwar, or Shiva, is beautiful and price a go to. It has grow to be very fashionable now, however virtually 18 years in the past, as a scholar, we had been capturing one thing close by and had stayed on the temple. It was far much less crowded then. Harihareshwar has a good looking rocky sea entrance stuffed with many many crabs. And on both aspect of this temple city are two seashore cities of Diveagar and Shrivardhan. Each stunning cities and good seashores. Discover some respectable stays right here and eat native meals. The native meals in Diveagar we had was superior. Keep away from any menu that’s non-local.
There are a lot of small and delightful seashores alongside this stretch, like Harnai, Velas, Ganapatiphule, Ratnagiri and so on, however they preserve turning into farther from Mumbai and maybe not precisely for an article titled “locations to go to close to me”.
